Bus from Preston City Centre to Manchester City Centre
4 direct routes · 55–80 min · first and last bus 14:15 (weekdays); night services 424, 181 and 828 run 22:35–03:20.
Next buses to Manchester City Centre as of 12:53
Scheduled times at the boarding stop in Preston City Centre, from the operators' timetables — they update automatically. Open the stop for live tracking.
Direct routes
| Route | Operator | Journey time | Weekday journeys | Days | First | Last | Board at | Get off at | Calls at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 424 | National Express | ~80 min | 1 | Sat 1 · Sun 1 | 22:35 | 22:35 | Bus Station (Stand A) | Manchester Central Coach Station | Bolton |
| 181 | National Express | ~55 min | 1 | Sat 1 · Sun 1 | 03:20 | 03:20 | Bus Station (Stand A) | Manchester Central Coach Station | — |
| UK030 | FlixBus | ~75 min | 1 | Sat 1 · Sun 1 | 14:15 | 14:15 | Bus Station (Stand A) | Shudehill Interchange (Stand G) | — |
| 828 | National Express | ~55 min | 1 | Fridays only | 03:15 | 03:15 | Bus Station (Stand A) | Manchester Central Coach Station | — |
Times are for the first boarding point in Preston City Centre on each route's weekday timetable — open the route for the full timetable, live map and every stop.
The same number runs elsewhere in the UK — see every 424 bus, 181 bus or 828 bus timetable.
Frequently asked questions
Which bus goes from Preston City Centre to Manchester City Centre?
4 routes run directly from Preston City Centre to Manchester City Centre: the 424 (National Express), the 181 (National Express), the UK030 (FlixBus), the 828 (National Express). The most frequent is the 424, once each weekday — board at Bus Station (Stand A) and get off at Manchester Central Coach Station, about 80 minutes.
How long does the bus take from Preston City Centre to Manchester City Centre?
Between 55 minutes on the 181 and 80 on the 424, depending on which route you catch and on traffic. It calls at Bolton on the way.
What time is the first and last bus from Preston City Centre to Manchester City Centre?
On weekdays the first and last direct bus leaves around 14:15 — and night services 424, 181 and 828 run 22:35–03:20. Check the route timetables for weekends.
How much is the bus from Preston City Centre to Manchester City Centre?
This is a long-distance coach service, so the England £3 bus fare cap does not apply — nor do local bus tickets or passes. Coach operators set their own fares and price by demand, so booking further ahead is usually much cheaper than buying on the day.